8 fresh deaths take dead count to 22 in Kashmir

8 fresh deaths take dead count to 22 in Kashmir

Srinagar, Aug 2.2010

: As the government finds hard to control the ever seething anger, eight more persons including an eight-year-old boy were killed Monday, taking the death count in last four days to 22.

A boy, Sameer Ahmed Rah son of Fayaz Ahmad was killed in alleged security forces thrashing in the uptown Batmaloo area this evening.

Locals alleged the security forces caught hold of the boy and beat him till he died, however police said that he was wounded in the stampede after security forces chased away protesters in the area. As per police, he later died in SHMS hospital.

Even though the government had imposed curfew across Kashmir, there was no let up in the protests. The focal point of the protests remained the south Kashmir, which witnessed five fresh deaths and all the dead included teens.

Security forces opened fire on a highly discharged group of protesters near Sangam Bijbihara, resulting into death of two persons— Bashir Ahmad, son of Mohammad Ismail Reshi of Wacchi and Irshad Ahmad son of Mohammad Abdullah Bhat of Reshipora, Pulwama.

As the news about the incident spread, thousands of people hit streets and staged demonstrations. They blocked the Srinagar-Jammu highway and also attacked various offices of government and mainstream political parties. At Kokernag, protesters damaged the office of Congress party.

Police opened fire and burst tear smoke shells to disperse the protesters at Sher Bagh, Qazigund and Kokernag. At least seventeen people were injured in the clashes between forces and the protesters.

At Arwani, four people were injured when Army opened fire to disperse hundreds of protesters near Jablipora.

Another youth was killed and at least 20 others were injured when security forces opened fire at Kakpora village of Pulwama district.

They said 22-year-old Mohammad Yaqoob son of Abdur Rahim Bhat of Zadoora village of Kakpora killed after a police cop opened fire at him from point blank range this afternoon. Yaqoob was rushed by locals to the Public Health Centre Newa, where doctors declared him brought dead.

The killing sparked off violent clashes in the area. Thousands of people came out on roads and pelted rocks on police on troops and police. Angry protesters alter set Rajpora police station and police posts at Kakpora and Koimoh on fire.

Security forces and police also opened fire after they failed to disperse thousands of protesters with teargas canisters. At least nine people suffered injuries in the firing at Chanser village of the Kulgam. One of the critically wounded boy identified as Ashiq Hussain son of Ghulam Hassan succumbed to injuries at SHMS hospital here.

Late evening reports said that a youth identified as Rameez Ahmad Bhat was killed in when security forces opened fire to quell a rampaging mob at main town Kulgam

Earlier, a 17-year-old Tariq Ahmad son of Farooq Ahmad Dar of Semthan village of Bijbehara succumbed to injuries after three days. He was wounded Friday after being hit by a teargas shell.

In the neighboring Shopian district, at least four people were injured when paramilitary CRPF and police opened fire and lobbed teargas shells to disperse demonstrators at Bongam, Main Chowk, Tak Mohalla, Main Chowk and other areas. Two of the critically injured youth identified as Moin Ahmad and Mukhtar Ahmad were rushed to Srinagar for specialized treatment.

In Kralpora village of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, police opened fire on mobs engaging in heavy stone pelting when repeated baton charges and tear gas failed to disperse them. A youth identified as Khurshid Ahmad War son of Muhammad Maqbool was killed in the firing.

Five others identified as Naseema Begum wife of Mohammad Yusuf, Nasir Ahmad son of Abdul Khaliq, Muneer Ahmad, son of Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Malik, Owais War son of Nisar Ahmad War and Farooq Ahmad son of Ghulam Hassan Lone were critically wounded and rushed to SHMS hospital here in critical condition. Condition of Farooq Ahmad remained very critical, said a doctor who attended upon him.

The death fuelled massive pro-freedom demonstrations in the frontier district. Thousands of people, particularly youth came out on roads and attacked Special Operations Group (SOG) and police post, Kralpora.

In the neighboring Baramulla district, at least twenty five people including ten policemen were injured in ding-dong clashes.

Reports said defying curfew, thousands of people of Narwaav area of the district took to streets and staged demonstrations against the killing of unarmed civilians. The people marched through the streets of the town and tried to proceed towards the main town Baramulla. However, when the protestors reached Sheeri, they attacked the Police Training Centre (PTC). Police fired scores of rounds in air when they failed to disperse the demonstrators with tear smoke shells. At least fifteen people, including six policemen suffered injuries in the clashes.

Protesters had also attacked a police van near Public Health Centre (PHC) Sheeri last evening causing injuries to nearly four policemen.

Reports of protests and clashes have also been received from old town Baramulla, Khawja Bagh, Delina, Khanpora, cement bridge, Azad Gunj, Sangri, Kanli Bagh, Deewan Bagh, Delina, Khwaja Bagh and other areas of the district. Violent protests also rocked many areas of Sopore town including Baba Yusuf, Batpora, Takiabad, Noorbag and Kralteng and many areas in the Apple Town. Protesters set ablaze a hut of forest department at Shangergund.

Mobs torched the offices of the local tehsildar, chief medical officer and chief horticulture officer and a hutment at the local railway station in central Kashmir’s Badgam district.

Angry protests also attacked and set on fire several sheds and quarters of Northern Railways in Sebdan area of the Budgam district. At least thirty people suffered injuries in the forces action across the district. A youth identified as Bilal Ahmad Shiekh received bullet in the abdomen. He was rushed to Srinagar in a critical condition.

Clashes also broke out in Ganderbal district, when CRPF men and police used force to quell a peaceful procession this afternoon.

Hundreds of people of Kangan took to streets and staged India demonstrations. Shouting ant-India slogans, the protesters tried to march towards the district headquarter. However, security forces swung into action and lobbed scores of tear smoke shells. At least five people were injured in the ensuing clashes between protesters and the forces.

Elsewhere, nearly forty people were injured when troops and police opened fire and burst tear smoke shells to quell demonstrations in Chanpora, Qamarwari, Chanpora, Natipora, Mochou, Soura, Lala Bazar, Brane, Nishat, Harwan, Hazratbal, Ilahi Bagh, Lasjan, Rawalpora and other areas of the city.

Since Friday, 22 people have been killed and the total dead count in the unrest since June 11 last has gone up to 39.